Custom «Becoming Mexican American» Essay Paper Sample

The author Sanchez has broken new grounds in his novel thus it appears to be more than a report of ethnic studies. However, the novel argues that even long before the Second World War, Mexican Americans who had settled in Los Angeles had their unique identity which corresponded to their new homeland rather not their country of origin, Mexico. In their new homeland, Mexican were not warmly welcomed by Americans since they were discriminated, harassed and denied job opportunities and education which rendered them to relying on simple manual, low paying jobs in order for them to meet their needs.

The ruthlessness of Americans made these immigrants to come together and build a cohesive Mexican community which could adapt their native cultural practices in the American soil. In regard to this novel being a report of ethnic studies during pre-second world war, it is in this period that Americans came into terms with Mexican culture whose growth was triggered by discrimination and racial prejudice of Americans to the foreigners. In addition, the move by Mexicans to introduce their culture in America was triggered by pressure from Americans to assimilate American culture and also the Mexican government advocated for Mexican citizens remaining royal to their native culture even when they remained as American citizens which they chose to comply with.

Furthermore, in America there was a variety of religious faiths which were competing for followers but majority of Mexicans remained attached to the catholic faith though a few converted into Protestants. They also remained attached to the food culture but it was inevitable to adopt some American cultural practices such as clothing fashions. Moreover, the Mexican culture grew highly in the restaurants and clubs whereby the American and Spanish songs and lyrics were danced in Mexican styles by Mexican males who in most cases dressed in working class garb whereby one has to acquire a dancing ticket and women partners were earning five cents for every dance.

Additionally, with the movement of time, Mexican culture came to be assimilated by Americans who liked Mexican dancing styles in the plazas and clubs. Also, the single males dominated the population in the dancing clubs which indicated the likelihood of intermingling between sexes and different nationalities. Later on a large number of single individuals got married that led to the ending of the plazas. However, Mexicans while still in their marriage lives were fond of entertainment whereby they purchased some form of entertainment equipments which could be enjoyed by every individual, irrespective of the age.

However, the culture of Mexicans was based on entertainment and religious faith. In support of this point, majority of the Mexicans were of catholic faith whereas Americans who lived in Los Angeles were Protestants whereby intercultural relationship between Americans and Mexicans demanded that Mexicans covert to Protestants. On the other hand, Mexicans interchanged their entertainment culture with Americans by settling up plazas which were only for single males. More also, even after getting married, Mexicans continued to spend on entertainment equipments which suite their marriage lives.

Corridos are popular cultural narrative songs and poetries which are used to pass information to individuals of the same culture and beliefs. They were widely used as tools of communication during the Mexican revolution. Mexican immigrants in America used corridos to pass information amongst their fellow colleagues which helped them to strengthen their bond and native culture as well as shaping cultural memories. More also, corridos brought about togetherness between Mexicans and they contributed to the emergence of plazas which were entertainment theaters for the Mexicans where singers and poets used corridos to pass information to the audience.

Pedro J. Gonzalez's was a Mexican-American entertainer and an entertainer. He immigrated to America as a teenager in Los Angeles in 1923 after escaping civil war in Mexico. However, his experience corresponds with the author's argument in various ways. First he experienced discrimination in the America whereby he lacked job opportunity because of his origin and different race from Americans which rendered him to getting employed as a longshoreman. However, he was actively involved in the cultural transformation of Mexicans in America. In support of this point he was the first person to start Spanish-language radio broadcast which used corridos to communicate to the immigrant Mexicans.

However, his broadcast became very popular with Mexicans especially to those who were field laborers. He also used his broadcast to rage against the deportations of a large number of Mexicans from America by American government. Though he feared the reactions of the American government against his campaigns, he never shied away from uniting Mexicans by using his music and corridos to pass information.

In 1934, he was sentenced for fifty years in prison after being charged with allegations of raping a sixteen year old girl. He was later released after serving for six years in prison. This followed the appeal which was raised against his charges by the woman who he was said to have raped. This experience corresponds to the Sanchez's argument because he was convicted under false allegations which American authorities did not investigate. This indicates that Americans were not happy with his actions of fighting for social justice of Mexicans who were mistreated by their counterparts in America (Sánchez, 1995).

More also, he was a member of a Spanish music band which was an important tool of informing about the experiences of the oppressed population. They normally recorded native Mexican songs as well as contemporary compositions in 1930. However, the band was made him a hero in the south California because of the corridos which advocated for social justice of oppressed populations. However, the experience of Gonzales corresponded with Sanchez's argument which sated that corridos were used as the tools of passing information during the Mexican revolution.